THE EFFECT OF PLANT POPULATION AND PLANT ARRANGEMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) AND SORGHUM (Sorghum b i c o l or L. Moench) IN MIXED CROPS
THE EFFECT OF PLANT POPULATION AND PLANT ARRANGEMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) AND SORGHUM (Sorghum b i c o l or L. Moench) IN MIXED CROPS
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Date
1985-03
Authors
LERE, GARBA ALIYU
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Abstract
A f i e l d experiment was conducted at Saminaka and Samaru in
1983 with the aim of determining the effects of plant population
and cropping pattern on the yield and yield components of maize
and sorghum in mixture. An attempt was aisn made to determine
the optimum plant population and cropping pattern for the mixture.
A f a c t o r i a l experiment was laid out in a randomized complete
block design with four r e p l i c a t i o n s . Combination of two plant
populations (44,444 and 66,666 plants ha- 1 ) and six cropping
patterns (2:1 and 1:2 of maize: sorghum mixture at alternate row
and within row arrangement together with sole maize ana sorghum)
made up the treatments.
Increasing plant population of maize in the mixture from
44,444 to 66,666 plants ha- 1 ) increased the grain yield at Samaru
but not at Samina.ka. The 2:1 proportion of maize:sorghum at
a l t e r n a t e and mixed within row gave better grain yield of maize
than the 1:2 proportion, but inferior to the sole maize at both
locations. These observations were supported by data on light
interception. At both. Samaru and Saminaka, plant population
levels and cropping pattern failed to affect the grain yield of
sorghum.
There was an average mixing advantage of 20% for the 2:1
and 1:2 proportions at Samaru while at Saminaka, the mixing
advantage were 25% and 30% for the a l t e r n a t e and mixed row
respectively. The land equivalent r a t i o (LER) gave a similar
r e s u l t s with an average of 1.37 and 1.07 for the 2:1 and 1:2
proportions at both sites. At Samaru, all cropping patterns
gave higher grain yield at higher plant populations except for
a small decline in the 112 mixed row while at Saminaka, three
of the mixed crops responded positively to plant populations
whereas "both sole crops responded negatively. The alternate
row had higher LER at Samaru while the mixed row arrangement
had higher LER at Saminaka. It is therefore obvious from this
work that the optimum arrangement for sorghum:maize mixture is
conclusive. The 2:1 proportions (maize:sorghum) performed
better than the 1:2 proportions at both locations.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu B e l lo
U n i v e r s i t y , Zaria, in p a r t i a l f u l f i l m e n t of the requirements
f o r the Degree of Master of Science in Agronomy.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA,
NIGERIA
MARCH, 1985
Keywords
EFFECT OF PLANT POPULATION,, PLANT ARRANGEMENT,, PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE,, Zea mays L,, SORGHUM,, Sorghum b i c o l or L. Moench,, CROPS,